Peterhead and Fraserburgh reporters Scott Milne and Sean O'Neil will also take on the challenge next month

A challenging course the reporters are looking to raise funds for CLAN Cancer Support along the way having seen the great work the charity puts in across the whole of the North East.

The team who have called themselves ‘Sprint Journalism’ will take part in the Beast Race at Knockburn Loch, Banchory on September 26.

The team will drag themselves through thick mud; climb over 12ft-high wooden walls; wade through shoulder-high bog water; pile over pontoons; scurry under barbed wire; jump into an icy loch; slide into deep water and get tangled in a giant rope web.

When they get through that they will then bounce over hurdles; clamber up a tower of giant bales; feel their way through pitch-black tunnels; scramble over vertical cargo nets; dunk under massive water pontoons and thrash up steep loose slopes.

Mearns Leader reporter Lee McCann said this week that he is terrified of taking on the Beast Race.

He said: “I’ll try and put into words the sheer terror I feel when I think about taking this 10k obstacle course. I’ve looked up what we are due to face and I wish I started training last year.

“However I have seen the great work that everyone puts in at CLAN Cancer Support and this has motivated me to do my best and achieve my aim of finishing.

“I’m hoping we raise a good amount for CLAN so they can continue their great work throughout the north east.

“If you could help us with this please feel free to visit our JustGiving page that we’ll share online, or simply pop into the office on Ann Street. Anyone with tips and advice is highly sought after.”

Susan Crighton, CLAN’s fundraising manager, said: “The popularity of the Banchory Beast Race continues to rise and it’s fantastic that a team of reporters from the north-east’s Johnston Press publications has decided to take part on behalf of CLAN.

“With CLAN operating a number of support and wellbeing centres throughout the north-east of Scotland, its links with the local press in each area are vital in terms of raising awareness and support of the regionalised bases.

“The support that is regularly shown by these papers to CLAN is extremely beneficial and I can’t thank them enough for their continued efforts.”

You can read more about the reporters story and donate online via at www.justgiving.com/sprintjournalism.